• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.57 no.6
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• pp.587-593
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• 2019

Excavation (2008-2014) carried out under the Uffizi Gallery (Florence, Italy) led to the discovery of 75 individuals, mostly buried in multiple graves. Based on Roman minted coins, the graves were preliminarily dated between the second half of the 4th and the beginning of the 5th centuries CE. Taphonomy showed that this was an emergency burial site associated with a catastrophic event, possibly an epidemic of unknown etiology with high mortality rates. In this perspective, paleoparasitological investigations were performed on 18 individuals exhumed from 9 multiple graves to assess the burden of gastrointestinal parasitism. Five out of eighteen individuals (27.7%) tested positive for ascarid-type remains; these are considered as "decorticated" Ascaris eggs, which have lost their outer mammillated coat. Roundworms (genus Ascaris) commonly infest human populations under dire sanitary conditions. Archaeological and historical evidence indicates that Florentia suffered a period of economic crisis between the end of 4th and the beginning of the 5th centuries CE, and that the aqueduct was severely damaged at the beginning of the 4th century CE, possibly during the siege of the Goths (406 CE). It is more than plausible that the epidemic, possibly coupled with the disruption of the aqueduct, deeply affected the living conditions of these individuals. A 27.7% frequency suggests that ascariasis was widespread in this population. This investigation exemplifies how paleoparasitological information can be retrieved from the analysis of sediments sampled in cemeteries, thus allowing a better assessment of the varying frequency of parasitic infections among ancient populations.

• Communications of Mathematical Education
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.259-282
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• 2010

In this paper, we introduce a modified Moore Method designed for the multivariable calculus course, and discuss about the effective teaching and learning method by observing the changes in the understanding of students' learning and the effects on students' learning in the class implemented by this modified Moore Method. This teaching experiment research was conducted with the 15 students who took the multivariable calculus course offered as a 3 week summer session in 2008 at H University. To guide the students' active preparation, stepwise course materials structured in the form of questions on the important mathematical notions were provided to the students in advance. We observed the process of the students' small-group collaborative learning activities and their presentations in the class, and analysed the students' class journals collected at the end of every lecture and the survey carried out at the end of the course. The analysis of these results show that the students have come to recognize that a deeper understanding of the subjects are possible through their active process of search and discovery, and the discussion among the peers and teaching each other allowed a variety of learning experiences and reflective thinking.

• Mass Spectrometry Letters
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.63-69
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• 2014

In this study, we present a new isotope-coded carbamidomethylation (iCCM)-based quantitative proteomics, as a complementary strategy for conventional isotope labeling strategies, with providing the simplicity, ease of use, and robustness. In iCCM-based quantification, two proteome samples can be separately isotope-labeled by means of covalently reaction of all cysteinyl residues in proteins with iodoacetamide (IAA) and its isotope (IAA-$^{13}C_2$, $D_2$), denoted as CM and iCCM, respectively, leading to a mass shift of all cysteinyl residues to be + 4 Da. To evaluate iCCM-based isotope labeling in proteomic quantification, 6 protein standards (i.e., bovine serum albumin, serotransferrin, lysozyme, beta-lactoglobulin, beta-galactosidase, and alpha-lactalbumin) isotopically labeled with IAA and its isotope, mixed equally, and followed by proteolytic digestion. The resulting CM-/iCCM-labeled peptide mixtures were analyzed using a nLC-ESI-FT orbitrap-MS/MS. From our experimental results, we found that the efficiency of iCCM-based quantification is more superior to that of mTRAQ, as a conventional nonisobaric labeling method, in which both of a number of identified peptides from 6 protein standards and the less quantitative variations in the relative abundance ratios of heavy-/light-labeled corresponding peptide pairs. Finally, we applied the developed iCCM-based quantitative method to lung cancer serum proteome in order to evaluate the potential in biomarker discovery study.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.43.1-43.13
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• 2020

The coronavirus disease 2019 is a contagious disease and had caused havoc throughout the world by creating widespread mortality and morbidity. The unavailability of vaccines and proper antiviral drugs encourages the researchers to identify potential antiviral drugs to be used against the virus. The presence of RNA binding domain in the nucleocapsid (N) protein of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) could be a potential drug target, which serves multiple critical functions during the viral life cycle, especially the viral replication. Since vaccine development might take some time, the identification of a drug compound targeting viral replication might offer a solution for treatment. The study analyzed the phylogenetic relationship of N protein sequence divergence with other 49 coronavirus species and also identified the conserved regions according to protein families through conserved domain search. Good structural binding affinities of a few natural and/or synthetic phytocompounds or drugs against N protein were determined using the molecular docking approaches. The analyzed compounds presented the higher numbers of hydrogen bonds of selected chemicals supporting the drug-ability of these compounds. Among them, the established antiviral drug glycyrrhizic acid and the phytochemical theaflavin can be considered as possible drug compounds against target N protein of SARS-CoV-2 as they showed lower binding affinities. The findings of this study might lead to the development of a drug for the SARS-CoV-2 mediated disease and offer solution to treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.84-92
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• 2019

Listeria monocytogenes is a major cause of serious foodborne illness in the dairy foods. Although Caenorhabditis elegans model is well established as a virulence model of pathogenic bacteria, its application on L. monocytogenes is critically unclear. The objective of this study was to carry out an evaluation of L. monocytogenes toxicity using C. elegans nematode as a simple host model. We found that C. elegans nematodes have high susceptibility to L. monocytogenes infection, as a consequence of accumulation of bacteria in the worms' intestine. However, L. innocua, which is known to be non-toxic, is not accumulate in the intestine of worms and is not toxic similarly to Escherichia coli OP50 known as the normal feed source of C. elegans. Importantly, immune-associated genes of C. elegans were intensely upregulated more than 3.0-fold when they exposed to L. monocytogenes. In conclusion, we established that C. elegans is an effective model for studying the toxicity of L. monocytogenes and we anticipate that this system will result in the discovery of many potential anti-listeria agents for dairy foods.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.328-335
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• 2018

'EGCG(epigallocatechin gallate) rich Green Tea extract(EGTE)' was prepared by a convenient chromatographical manner using water and alcohol which was regarded as the most suitable and appropriate process for food manufacturing. The EGCG content in EGTE was estimated above 97%. Analysis of polyphenol components in green tea, i.e., catechin(C), epigallocatechin(EGC), epicatechin(EC), epigallocatechin gallate(EGCG), epicatechin gallate(ECG) and caffeine was performed by HPLC. The optimized HPLC method exhibited a good linearity of calibration curve, accuracy and precision. The long-term stability evaluation of EGTE was carried out with a powdered formulation and solution formulation by estimating the color change and measuring the EGCG content by HPLC analysis for one year. The EGCG content of the powdered EGTE stored in a transparent bottle at room temperature was retained over 97% at the end of the experimental period. The EGCG content of 0.1% water solution of EGTE stored in a transparent bottle at RT were observed to decrease below 30%, whereas that stored at $2^{\circ}C$ retained over 70%, respectively. These results suggested that a powdered formulation could be recommended for the commercialized nutraceutical product of EGTE rather than a solution formulation.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.314-319
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• 2019

Background: The dramatic worldwide decline in the butterfly species Leptalina unicolor (Bremer & Grey) is largely the result of continuous habitat decline and disturbance by humans. The discovery of a narrow habitat in riverside wetlands utilized by L. unicolor raises the hope that such restricted key areas could be rather easily protected. Results: Here, we explain the environmental variables and habitat characteristics that primarily influence the distribution of L. unicolor discovered at the riverside areas along the Geum River. L. unicolor larvae were found at 9 of 13 study sites, and their abundance was strongly positively correlated with plant biomass. Our investigation showed that among four plant species (Miscanthus sinensis, Spodiopogon cotulifer, Setaria viridis, and Imperata cylindrica), L. unicolor larvae were the most abundant on the leaves of M. sinensis. They were not abundant on the leaves of S. cotulifer, S. viridis, or I. cylindrica. Interestingly, the number of L. unicolor larvae was positively correlated with the coverage area ($m^2$) of M. sinensis (F = 41.7, $r^2=0.74$, P < 0.0001). Conclusions: It appears that water (e.g., wetlands, ponds, and watersides) located along the riverside areas along the Geum River is important for the constant maintenance and conservation of L. unicolor. This is based on the habitat characteristics (water preference) of M. sinensis, which is used as a habitat by L. unicolor larvae. However, the waterside is dry and terrestrialization is in progress owing to the decreased water levels and water supply caused by an opened weir. Hereafter, this area will likely require management to secure a stable habitat for L. unicolor.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.87-95
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• 2019

Long interspersed element-1 (LINE-1 or L1) is an autonomous retrotransposon, which is capable of inserting into a new region of genome. Previous studies have reported that these elements lead to genomic variations and altered functions by affecting gene expression and genetic networks. Mounting evidence strongly indicates that genetic diseases or various cancers can occur as a result of retrotransposition events that involve L1s. Therefore, the development of methodologies to study the structural variations and interpersonal insertion polymorphisms by L1 element-associated changes in an individual genome is invaluable. In this study, we applied a systematic approach to identify human-specific L1s (i.e., L1Hs) through the bioinformatics analysis of high-throughput next-generation sequencing data. We identified 525 candidates that could be inferred to carry non-reference L1Hs in a Korean individual genome (KPGP9). Among them, we randomly selected 40 candidates and validated that approximately 92.5% of non-reference L1Hs were inserted into a KPGP9 genome. In addition, unlike conventional methods, our relatively simple and expedited approach was highly reproducible in confirming the L1 insertions. Taken together, our findings strongly support that the identification of non-reference L1Hs by our novel target enrichment method demonstrates its future application to genomic variation studies on the risk of cancer and genetic disorders.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.231-236
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• 2019

In drug discovery or preclinical stages of development, potency parameters such as $IC_{50}$, $K_i$, or $K_d$ in vitro have been routinely used to predict the parameters of efficacious exposure (AUC, $C_{min}$, etc.) in humans. However, to our knowledge, the fundamental assumption that the potency in vitro is correlated with the efficacious concentration in vivo in humans has not been investigated extensively. Thus, the present review examined this assumption by comparing a wide range of published pharmacokinetic (PK) and potency data. If the drug potency in vitro and its in vivo effectiveness in humans are well correlated, the steady-state average unbound concentrations in humans [$C_{u_-ss.avg}=f_u{\cdot}F{\cdot}Dose/(CL{\cdot}{\tau})=f_u{\cdot}AUCss/{\tau}$] after treatment with approved dosage regimens should be higher than, or at least comparable to, the potency parameters assessed in vitro. We reviewed the ratios of $C_{u_-ss.avg}$/potency in vitro for a total of 54 drug entities (13 major therapeutic classes) using the dosage, PK, and in vitro potency reported in the published literature. For 54 drugs, the $C_{u_-ss.avg}$/in vitro potency ratios were < 1 for 38 (69%) and < 0.1 for 22 (34%) drugs. When the ratios were plotted against $f_u$ (unbound fraction), "ratio < 1" was predominant for drugs with high protein binding (90% of drugs with $f_u{\leq}5%$; i.e., 28 of 31 drugs). Thus, predicting the in vivo efficacious unbound concentrations in humans using only in vitro potency data and $f_u$ should be avoided, especially for molecules with high protein binding.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.70.4-70.4
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• 2019

Complex organic molecules (COMs) are increasingly observed in the environs of young stellar objects (YSOs), including hot cores/corinos around high-mass/low-mass protostars and protoplanetary disks. It is widely believed that COMs are first formed in the ice mantle of dust grains and subsequently released to the gas by thermal sublimation at high temperatures (T>100 K) in strong stellar radiation fields. In this paper, we report a new mechanism that can desorb COMs from icy grain mantles at low temperatures (T<100K), which is termed rotational desorption. The rotational desorption process of COMs comprises two stages: (1) ice mantles on suprathermally rotating grains spun-up by radiative torques (RATs) are first disrupted into small fragments by centrifugal stress, and (2) COMs and water ice then evaporate rapidly from the tiny fragments (i.e., radius a <1nm) due to thermal spikes or enhanced thermal sublimation due to increased grain temperature for larger fragments (a>1 nm). We discuss the implications of rotational desorption for releasing COMs and water ice in the inner region of protostellar envelopes (hot cores and corinos), photodissociation regions, and protoplanetary disks (PPDs). In shocked regions of stellar outflows, we find that nanoparticles can be spun-up to suprathermal rotation due to supersonic drift of neutral gas, such that centrifugal force can be sufficient to directly eject some molecules from the grain surface, provided that nanoparticles are made of strong material. Finally, we find that large aggregates (a~ 1-100 micron) exposed to strong stellar radiations can be disrupted into individual icy grains via RAdiative Torque Disruption (RATD) mechanism, which is followed by rotational desorption of ice mantles and evaporation of COMs. In the RATD picture, we expect some correlation between the enhancement of COMs and the depletion of large dust grains in not very dense regions of YSOs.